Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1887-04-04
THE NATIONAL DRILL.
Southern Companies Object % COmpet,
ing With COlorcd Soldierx.
THK ACTION OF THE MONTGOMERY MILITARY oRaANT
CATIONS AND WHAT Is SAID OF 1T HKRE-THl
ENTRIES FOR TIE DRILL CLOSED.

rHK ACTION OF THE MONTGOMERY MnlrARr oReAN-
zArioNs AND WHAT is SAID OF 1T HKRE-THK
ENTRIES FOR THE DRILL CLosEp.
The action OF the two military companies OF
Montgomery, Ala, in withdrawing from the ma
tlonal drill because OF the admission OF colored
companies TO compete with the whites and the
report that other southern companies Will with
draw for the same reason created no little sur
prise among the managers OF the drill. As shown
by press dispatches the Montgomery Grays and
the True Blues, at meeting In that city saturday
night, unanimously resolved to withdraw from
the dr1ll. Those companies not only decided to
withdraw, but sent kilograms TO Atlanta and
other Southern points advising other militia or
CARNATIONS OF that section To follow their ex-
ample.
WHAT SECRETARY DE LEON SAYS
When the report that the Montgomery com.
panies contemplated withdrawing reached this
city saturday afternoon Managing Secretary De
Leon, OF the drill, was disposed TO dscredit IT, He
produced letter from Capt. Bibb, OF the Mont
the latter wrote: 1.-The colored companies enter
Ing Will not interfere with US at all.
CAPT. BIBBs EXPLANATION.
Capt. Bibb admits writing the letter. but SAYS
according to the late dispatches from Mont
gomery, that when he wrote it he had no idea that
tne Applications OF colOred companies to enter the
Grill would be accepted, he felt quite satsfied
they could be ruled out on a technicality. He did
noI OeneVe there was colored company in the
United states organized and equipped In a manner
10 MT IL to enter the drill He never had any idea
OF going into the same camp with his company
the rule which was inserted in the circulars sent
out by the managers that they reserved the right
10 reject all applications was intended to cover
this very thing. Furthermore. he thought that IL
colored companies were permitted to enter they
would not be placed I'm the same camp or entered
Tor the competitive drills with the whites
BE WILL TALK WITH THK BARK ON,
STAR reporter waited upon Managing Secre.
tary De Leon at national drill Headquarters this
morning to ascertain what he had TO say on the
subject
%! decline to be interviewed on that subject he
said very positively.
yourself TO limited extent" replied the reporter
Any reported interview with me on the uues-
uon Is not authentic" retorted Mr.. DE Leon.
The reporter exhibited extracts from several
papers, and after glancing at them Mr. DE Leon
SAID: ION, that was when II was reported that the
companies would withdraw. Now that it is an
accomplished fact that they have withtIrawn.
prefer not TO say word until get ready to talk
ana then shall talk with the bark on"
TIE ENTRIES
Under the rules adopted last Saturday was the
day for closing the entries. Up to that date the
entries accepted represented about $50 separate
organizations, distributed as follows: Regiments
4; Dattailons, o; artillery companies z; schooled
cadets Sd;yd%a 6 dzo1aves Gz 4 infantry company drill
tice tabouD, 81; bands and drum CORPS
laoou9, y. These include three colored
panieS from Richmond, Va and one home colonel
company OF this city.
The management was apprised, by telegraph, OF
several applications that had been mailed and
were en- route.
RIVAL INTERSTATE DRILL
sentence In the press dispatch announcing
the withdrawal OF the Montgomery companies was
as follows: "a movement Is already I'm foot to
% nave an interstate drill at Montgomery" 1t is
suggested In some quarters that the movement
may account for the apparently sudden determi-
nation OF the Montgomery companies TO withdraw
What COMMISSIONER waRAT4kY SAYS
''Some time age" (" said Commissioner Wheatley
to a STAR reporter to-day, 1--WE received commu-
nication from southern gentleman, who is inter-
ested In the National Drill asking ii colored or
gaaizations would be allowed to enter Before we
mad replied to this another letter was received
from parties In the vicinity OF Montgomery Ala
OF similar nature to the previous letter. The
tion in all its bearings and nally decided to write
the captain OF the Montgomery True Blues OF their
decision We wrote him that we would admit ali
men who are members OF the National
Guard. In his letter, requesting that
the Blues be. entered for the driIl the
captain stated that, so far as he knew, the ques
t1On had never been raised by Southern militia
men, and that he, personally, had no objection.
Is aopuS S ~ eHcps thas .ne news
letters, emanating from Mobile or Montgomery
Stating that the southern men would not 90 into
camp or drill with colOred soldiers. But [ think
these did not reflect popular sentiment there, ana
We're originated by several parties who desired to
get little notor1ety out OF il. Why, gentle
man In this city asked me the same question and
told him that We had no thought OF catering to
the race pre1udtceS OF any particular section OF
the country when we got up the drill, nor did We
propose TO do So One or two companies may
withdraw on this account, but do not think it
Will have any effect on the majority OF entries. In
response to our invitation we have already rs,-
ceived word from three colOred companies that
they intend entering. Here's letter from Gov
F1tZhugh Lee, OF Virginia, stating that
If his duties permit, he will be
present with his Stan on Governors Day. and In
addition to this we have heard from nearly twenty
other governors, representing the same number OF
States, who express their intention OF attending
the drill, accompanied by their StaIS Yes we
asked Congress to appropriate s., 900 for medals,
but it went under with the deficiency bill In which
that item had been Incorporated. The drill is
supported entirely by the generosity OF the people
of this cftV